Assessing the case for a universal basic income in the UK

Dr Luke Martinelli of the University of Bath investigates the reasons behind the rise of Universal Basic Income.

In recent years, universal basic income (UBI) has moved from the fringes of academic debate to being mooted in mainstream forums as a serious policy proposal. This report addresses the idea's remarkable rise, exploring why it has occurred; takes an objective look at the core issues relating to UBI's desirability, surveying the existing theoretical and empirical literature on UBI's likely effects; assesses its feasibility as a realistic proposal in the UK; and considers various options regarding policy design and implementation strategies.